Stock Market Closures on Veterans Day and How to Plan Around Them
The stock market is closed on Veterans Day
The U.S. stock market does not trade on Veterans Day, which falls on November 11 each year. All major exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Nasdaq, and the bond markets — shut down for the holiday. If November 11 falls on a weekend, the market observes the holiday on the nearest weekday instead.
This means you cannot buy or sell stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, or other securities on Veterans Day itself. Any order you place will not execute until the market reopens the following trading day. If you need to make a trade urgently, you should plan ahead and place it before the market closes on the business day before the holiday.
Key Takeaways
- The stock market closes completely on Veterans Day (November 11), and no trades execute on that day.
- If November 11 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the market observes the holiday on Friday or Monday instead.
- Orders placed after market close on the day before Veterans Day will not execute until the market reopens.
- Mutual funds and ETFs that trade during market hours also stop trading on Veterans Day, though some mutual funds allow after-hours purchases.
When the market closes and reopens around Veterans Day
The NYSE and Nasdaq both close at 4 p.m. Eastern time on the business day before Veterans Day. The market then remains closed all day on Veterans Day itself and reopens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time the following trading day.
If Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, the market observes the holiday on Friday and closes early or remains closed that day. If Veterans Day falls on a Sunday, the market observes it on Monday. You can check the NYSE or Nasdaq website for the exact holiday schedule each year, as it is published well in advance.
How a market closure affects different types of trades
Stock trades, ETF trades, and most mutual fund trades cannot execute during market closures. If you place an order to buy or sell a stock or ETF after the market closes on the day before Veterans Day, your order will sit in a queue and execute the next morning when the market opens — assuming the price is still within your order's terms.
Some mutual funds allow you to place orders after market hours, but those orders still settle based on the closing price of the next trading day. If you hold a mutual fund in a brokerage account, you can usually place an order to buy or sell at any time, but the transaction will not complete until the market reopens. Money market funds and bond funds follow the same rule.
If you own individual stocks and want to sell them before Veterans Day, place your order before 4 p.m. Eastern time on the day before the holiday. The same applies to ETFs and any other securities that trade during regular market hours.
Planning ahead for market closures
If you know you will need to make a trade around Veterans Day, place it the business day before the holiday closes. This is especially important if you are trying to move money out of the market or rebalance a portfolio before a specific date.
If you use automatic investments — such as a 401(k) contribution or a recurring ETF purchase — those contributions continue during market closures. The money goes into your account, but the actual purchase of shares does not happen until the market reopens. Your brokerage or plan administrator will execute the purchase at the opening price on the first trading day after Veterans Day.
For investors who trade frequently or manage large positions, it is worth noting that a two-day closure (if Veterans Day falls on a Friday) means your money sits uninvested for an extra day. If market conditions are volatile or you are concerned about price movement, consider placing your trades earlier in the week.
Other U.S. market holidays to know
Veterans Day is one of nine days each year when the U.S. stock market closes completely. The others are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. The market also closes early — at 1 p.m. Eastern time — on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve.
Some international exchanges have different holiday schedules. If you own stocks in foreign companies or international ETFs, those securities may trade on U.S. holidays if their home exchanges are open. Your brokerage will show you the trading hours for each security.
What happens if you forget and place an order during the closure
If you place a stock or ETF order after the market closes on the day before Veterans Day, your order will not disappear. It will remain active and execute when the market reopens, as long as the price meets your order's terms. For example, if you place a limit order to buy a stock at $50 and the stock opens at $49.50 on the day after Veterans Day, your order will execute immediately.
If you place an order through a mobile app or website and do not see it execute right away, check your account the next trading day. Most brokerages show pending orders clearly, and you can cancel an order if you change your mind before the market reopens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade on Veterans Day if I use a brokerage app?
No. All brokerages — whether you use a mobile app, website, or phone call — route trades through the same exchanges, which are closed on Veterans Day. No trades execute on that day, regardless of how you place the order.
What if I need to sell a stock urgently before Veterans Day?
Place your sell order before 4 p.m. Eastern time on the business day before the holiday. If you miss that window, your order will not execute until the market reopens the next trading day. If the situation is truly urgent, contact your brokerage by phone during business hours to discuss your options.
Do mutual funds trade on Veterans Day?
Mutual funds do not trade on Veterans Day. You can place an order to buy or sell, but it will not execute until the next trading day. The transaction will use the closing price from that day, not the price when you placed the order.
Will my automatic 401(k) contribution still happen during the market closure?
Yes. Your contribution will be deducted from your paycheck as scheduled, but the actual purchase of fund shares will happen when the market reopens. This is normal and does not affect your account balance.
How do I know if the market is closed on a specific day?
The NYSE and Nasdaq both publish their holiday calendars online each year. You can also check your brokerage website, which usually displays market hours and upcoming closures in the account dashboard or help section.